Fantasy football: Dawn of a new day for Ravens’ J.K. Dobbins, Kenyan Drake

Hype might be enjoyable. However usually it results in disappointment. When one thing is hyped an excessive amount of, expectations change into too grand to realistically ship.

Assume: the newest “Star Wars” trilogy. All the world was super-excited. Then “Power Awakens” got here out, and most have been glad. However then “Final Jedi” left many involved. And “Rise of Skywalker” turned the fan base on its head. A couple of years later, there was extra love for the brand new “Dune” than “Star Wars.”

Effectively, J.Ok. Dobbins is having a “Star Wars” second. And Kenyan Drake is his “Dune.”

Like “Star Wars,” Dobbins’ breakout had been lengthy anticipated, however repeatedly delayed by damage. When he lastly made his season debut in Week 4, he was fantastic — 13-for-41 dashing and 4-for-22 receiving, with two whole touchdowns. It wasn’t as technically spectacular as hoped, however it delivered.

Then got here Week 5. His effectivity rose a bit (8-for-44 dashing), however he failed to attain. So although technically a greater efficiency, it didn’t ship what fantasy critics and followers needed.

Lastly, we've got Sunday: Dobbins’ “Skywalker” plummet. His carries have been down (seven) and his yardage took a dive (15) with once more no position within the passing recreation. So after his “Power Awakens” 22.3 PPR debut, he has adopted with video games of 4.4 and 1.5. That's the-emperor-has-returned-somehow degree dangerous.

There's a wrinkle that coincides with this collapse of Dobbins enthusiasm, and that's the return of Drake. He was totally unimpressive in Weeks 1-2 earlier than being inactive for Weeks 3-4, after a lackluster 2021 season in Vegas. So why on Earth would this outdated Kenyan Drake thought get in Dobbins’ method? Drake was, in spite of everything, extra 1984 “Dune” than the “2021” reimagining.

Kenyan Drake
Kenyan Drake
Getty Photos

Solely, Drake appears reimagined. Week 5 was nothing to see, apart from he had changed Justice Hill as Dobbins’ backup. Then got here Sunday: 10 carries, 119 yards, one landing.

Even in good instances with marquee RBs, you'll be able to’t count on that sort of effectivity. However it isn’t simply the effectivity, it's Drake’s share of the work.

Bear in mind, Dobbins had simply seven carries. And he gained simply 15 yards. So whereas Dobbins barely topped 2 yards per carry, Drake was averaging 11.9 towards the identical protection.

Now, bear in mind, this may very well be a hot-hand anomaly, and subsequent week Dobbins may get 65 % of the workload once more. That's attainable. However is it cheap to suppose that would be the Ravens’ preliminary plan?

Drake seemed like the higher again this previous week, by so much. Would John Harbaugh and the teaching workers ignore that fully? Plan for subsequent week with out taking final week into consideration in anyway?

The Madman thinks the Ravens are too good to show a blind eye to recreation movie. We count on Drake to get extra alternatives subsequent week than he would have in any other case, then extra later if he does nicely once more.

Put merely: Drake earned the chance for a sequel. His “Dune” franchise may need legs, whereas Dobbins’ “Star Wars” run would possibly get placed on maintain.

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